October 2024

Update: City of Newport Beach Harbor Department Recent Accomplishments

By Harbormaster Paul Blank

Harbormaster Paul Blank

It is the mission of the Newport Beach Harbor Department to keep Newport Harbor clean, safe, and well-enjoyed. The most significant accomplishment of the City of Newport Beach Harbor Department of late has been the adoption and pursuit of that simple mission. Department team members are empowered to make decisions and take actions that support the mission as they go about their daily duties. That empowerment has led to much better, more efficient, and more effective delivery of services to the harbor community.

In support of maintaining and improving the cleanliness of the harbor, we deployed two water quality sensing “DataPods”. These units sense and report water quality conditions across five metrics (and hopefully soon a sixth) several times an hour. A simple dashboard allows the department to identify anomalies and respond much faster than traditional sampling methods with laboratory analysis. The dashboard also features alarm/alert notifications for significant anomalies in the conditions. A new AI-based feature called “Gilligan” has also been added to support data analysis and spot trends, and can be used for proactive decision-making in the case of a disaster.

Also, in support of the cleanliness of the harbor, in collaboration with Orange County Waste and Recycling, the Harbor Department conducted a marine flare disposal event at the municipal yard on June 22, 2024. Thanks to the Newport Harbor Foundation we were able to close a funding gap between what the State and County provided and what it actually cost to conduct the event. Seventy-four cars came through the disposal event and more than 900lbs of explosive material were properly handled for disposal. In addition to the City and OCWR, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary was represented and provided gifts and information for participants.

In terms of making the harbor safer, at long last and after numerous requests, the application to add lighting to the eight anchorage boundary buoys, 14 racing marks (K-Z), one speed buoy and one county-maintained navigation buoy just north of the Coast Highway bridge has been submitted to the Private
Aids to Navigation group within the US Coast Guard. Following successful submission of the application to the Coast Guard, the next step was to purchase the approved lights. Thanks to the Newport Harbor Foundation (NHF) for a grant to fund the purchase of the light fixtures. Seventeen have been installed by members of the Harbor Department so far. Eight more will be installed before the end of September.

The code enforcement team had a very successful 2023 and remains very busy and well-utilized. The team received recognition from the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers as the “2022 Innovative Program of the Year”. The team has distributed their responsibilities very effectively and is focused on their special areas of expertise. Their efforts have focused on stay limits in the anchorages, dye-tabbing of visiting vessels, and operability of vessels in the harbor. We’ve achieved the removal of a couple of unpermitted floats/dock extensions. We also received court approval to take nuisance abatement action on three inoperable and unsanitary vessels.

The code enforcement team also convened a Southern California Taskforce on Dilapidated and Inoperable Vessels. We’ve gotten positive responses and participation from essentially all the recreational harbors in Southern California as well as the California Division of Boating and Waterways and the US Coast Guard. The intent is to keep track of and alert one another on vessels of concern moving from one harbor to the next. The group will also attempt to make codes, rules, and policies more consistent from harbor to harbor, so visitor expectations are consistently set and they enjoy a more consistent experience.

To improve the enjoyment of our harbor the City introduced a new license program for 16 onshore and offshore City-owned moorings in a variety of sizes. Applications for the initial licenses were accepted through March 1, 2024. The initial licenses were issued by random drawing from among the applications received by March 1. Assignments were made based on the fit of available moorings to vessel size. Applicants who did not receive a mooring assignment in the initial drawing were placed on a waiting list as have applicants who submitted after March 1, 2024. Successful applicants have 14 days to execute a mooring license agreement after notification. The mooring license application can be completed and submitted online via the City’s Virtual Connect application portal. The new program is designed for vessel owners to lease moorings long-term without having to acquire a permit, sub-permit or mooring equipment. Monthly fees are charged based on the size of the mooring, starting at $162 a month for an 18-ft. mooring. Applications remain open and there is a significant waiting list across the size categories. Since July 1, 2024 there has been $26 fee to file an application and be put on a waiting list.

Also in support of improving enjoyment of the harbor, On May 23, 2024, the City opened a new public dock at the Balboa Marina with a ribbon cutting attended by the press and VIPs in the harbor community. Mayor O’Neill even arrived by Harbor Department patrol boat and then walked up the gangway to initiate the proceedings. This dock is the largest public dock on the harbor and has room for as many as 11 20’ vessels. The dock has a 3-hour time limit and is available from 6 am to 10 pm daily. There is no overnight berthing at this public dock.

The City opened another new public dock on August 27, 2025, the 15 th in the harbor at 29 th Street. That new public dock also has a three-hour time limit with no overnight berthing. That dock can accommodate up to four 20’ vessels and provides great access to the dining, entertainment, and provisioning establishments in Cannery Village.

Also on August 27, the Harbor Department welcomed to its fleet a new, all-electric patrol boat with a christening ceremony. The state-of-the-art VITA Seal vessel represents a significant investment in sustainable marine operations and the protection of our cherished coastal environment. Powered entirely by electric propulsion, the “HD-EV” will silently and efficiently patrol our harbor waters, safeguarding the public while producing zero emissions. It is worth noting this is the first all-electric workboat being delivered to a public agency anywhere in the United States. It seems fitting that the first all-electric workboat will be put into service in the same location where the first all-electric recreational vessel was launched more than 50 years ago.

Another important objective achieved by the department in 2023 was the elevation of six Harbor Services Worker and Harbor Services Lead positions to full-time. The people who serve in those positions are professionals who have chosen this work as their career. They deliver consistently excellent service and are dedicated to achieving the Harbor Department’s “clean, safe, and well-enjoyed” mission. It is a huge step forward that they can now call these jobs their “full-time” professions and not have to supplement their livelihoods with other part-time work. In addition to the dignity and benefits these team members now enjoy, it has meant significantly less time is spent on recruiting and personnel development activities. That time has been redeployed on activities that are of greater value to the harbor community.

Here are the three other significant objectives the Harbor Department accomplished recently:

  • Establish rapport and open a dialogue with representatives of the Harbor Charter Fleet industry to promote best practices for charter boat operations in Newport Harbor with particular attention to vessel specifications, noise, and pollution control compliance, and long-range plans for operations and berthing in Newport Harbor
  • Made full use of the $175K grant from the Calif. Division of Boating and Waterways for the removal of surrendered and abandoned vessels from Newport Harbor
  • Conducted the first-ever Harbor Summer Summit recap in the fall after the very successful and well-attended Harbor Summer Summit in the spring of 2023

Lastly, it is worthy of note that through better use of technology and improved processes, six of the 29 harbor-related fees were reduced in the most recent update which became effective on July 1, 2024.

Harbormaster Paul Blank

Inaugural Issue No.01

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